Third Souvenir Main Page

Excerpts from Francis 

C. Waid's Third Souvenir

Submitted by David M. Waid 

From Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Sherman, of Ottawa, Kas., comes a very kind note: "Your esteemed favor, the Souvenir, came to hand, and after a careful perusal we are free to say that we deem it a very valuable book. The precepts and advice therein contained could not fail, if strictly followed, to result in good to every one. We thank you for the kind remembrance, and as a token of our sincerity extend to yourself and Mrs. Waid an invitation to come and see us when you return to Kansas."

Maria Wygant Sellew writes a feelingly kind letter, in which she says in part: "We received the copy of your Souvenir which you kindly presented to us. Allow us to thank you and say that we will ever cherish its treasures, which are more valuable than gold or rubies--true tokens of friendship in the form of biographical reminiscences of relatives and friends we have loved so much, have met so often, and enjoyed the society of, and warm-hearted shaking of hands together. Your book calls up recollections of things almost forgotten, and I live them over again. How pleasant to do so, especially things pertaining to Blooming Valley and its surroundings."

F. L. and Ella Sexton write from Topeka, Kas.: "We have just received your kind and friendly donation (Second Souvenir) for which our feelings swell with gratitude to our friend. Our time for reading the book is very limited at present, but what little we have read makes us think of what a wonderful amount of good a man can do for his fellow mortals when he is stirred by the Spirit."

From Mrs. Eleanor L. Skelton, Evansville, Ill: "Accept my thanks for your book which I lately received, and have read with interest and profit. As a family Souvenir too much could not be said in its praise, and your first reason for writing the book will surely be realized by any one that reads it."

From Wilson Smith, Rouseville, Penn.: "Your letter and book came to hand last week. I delivered the book you sent, to the superintendent of the Sunday-school, and you will likely hear direct from him. I have been perusing the one you gave me, and I find it very interesting. It contains excellent advice, and I am sure it will benefit me greatly on my journey through life. I will always remember the giver with the kindest of regards."

Rev. R. C. Smith, pastor of Grace M. E. Church, Oil City, Penn., writes in effect as follows: "I am very much pleased to receive your Souvenir, which I shall prize very highly. Please accept my sincerest thanks. In your book I find so many names of old friends and acquaintances. Your book leads me to think of old friends, and I shall read its pages with much satisfaction."

From D. A. Spohn, of Sycamore, Ill.: "Please accept my thanks for copy of your Second Souvenir received by me, and, believe me, I am more than pleased in reading its contents. The first evening it came into our possession, we sat up and read into the small hours of the night, and were so much interested we could scarce close the volume. I appreciate it for two reasons--first, because it was so kind of you to remember me on so slight an acquaintance; second, because we are all glad to have the pictures it contains of your relatives, among them being Anna, your present wife, who was for a long time a neighbor of ours. In looking through the Souvenir I find much to interest and profit me, for it is both temporal and spiritual food. In it I see you are casting your bread upon the waters, and the promise is it shall return after many days. I assure you I shall prize the book, and you may believe my sympathies are with you in your great and good work."

Mr. and Mrs. Stratton, of Sunny Side Ranch, Olpe, Kas., whom I had the pleasure of visiting with my brother-in law, R. P. Tyler, send thanks for copy of Souvenir.

From H. A. Sturgis, of Centreville, Penn.: "I have read your Second Souvenir with great pleasure, and highly appreciate your kindness. I see so much in it that interests me that I do not know what part to speak of first, but my mind goes back to the old State Road Church--the 'Pilgrims' Home'--which was the first church I was ever in, and the only one I was ever in with my father (Cyrus Goodwill), as he died when I was small."

Mr. and Mrs. O. T. Sutton, of Randolph, Penn., write: "It is with great pleasure we write to say we have read your Souvenir through, and found many interesting things in it, as well as lots of good advice. We can not express our thanks to you for being so kind and thoughtful, but we can congratulate you on being so successful in writing such an excellent book to give to your kindred and friends. It is something that will live after you have done with this life."

From Riley Sweet, Monroe Centre, Ill.: "I received your book containing a finely written account of yourself and family. The work is a good illustration of a man who has worked his way up in life, both morally and religiously, and also in the accumulation of wealth; but while you have laid up treasures on earth, you have also laid them up in Heaven. I feel that through your own diligence you have gained a position among men, which you and your wife may well be proud of. Your book is something that will have a tendency to make people better. Your advice to young men is grand; it may be the means of saving many, and starting them aright in life. I thank you a thousand times for the Souvenir, which I have enjoyed the reading of very much."

From Grace Thompson, of Meadville, Penn., I received the following: "Please accept my thanks for the copy of your Souvenir which you kindly presented to me. It contains much sound advice, and recalls to my memory many places and things which were almost forgotten."

My cousin, Mrs. F.J. Tiffany, writes a beautiful letter front Essex, Conn., my parents' native State, which I have more than once visited. I here give a small portion of the letter: "I have taken pen in hand to thank you for your kind remembrance in sending me your Second Souvenir. Words fail to express the feeling I have in my heart for your kindness to me, but you must take the will for the deed. I have been very much interested in its perusal thus far, and shall often be reminded of the giver, as I continue to read. I also think how pleased my dear husband would have been, had he been spared to peruse it with me, he so enjoyed your First Souvenir, of which, when he was just getting up from a sick bed, I used daily to read a portion to him. But how changed the scene! Now I read alone, but a kind Father cares for me and leads me along."

From Mrs. James Titus, Tryonville, Penn.: "I have been taking great pleasure this morning in reading one of your books sent to my son, Luther Titus. I am much pleased with this gift to my son, and as I have one of your First Souvenir, I would like to have a copy of your Second."

From Mrs. J. W. Trescott, of Elmira: "Your much-prized present of a beautiful book (Second Souvenir) came duly to hand, but found me quite sick, which will account for me not sooner acknowledging its receipt, and expressing my many thanks for the unexpected pleasure its perusal affords me."

Mrs. W. R. Trevey, of Moundsville, W. Va., writes in substance as follows: "Accept my thanks for the Souvenir you sent, which I have read with interest. It contains much that I appreciate. I will ever cherish it as a treasure, far more valuable than a gift of gold. The book is plainly written, and I doubt not will do a great deal of good."

From C. C. Tyler, No. 507 Brook Street, Galesburg, Ill.: "Second Souvenir received, and I wish to express my profoundest thanks for your kind remembrance. My wife and I are greatly pleased to read from the pen of one so well able to portray everyday thoughts to the printed page. The work will be of vast benefit to those who peruse the many valuable points you have so excellently illustrated."

Andrew G. Waid, my uncle, residing at Ann Arbor, Mich., writes as follows: "Your Second Souvenir sent me I received September 6, and I can not be thankful enough to you for it. I take pleasure in reading it, and the more I read it, the better I like it. Nearly all of the names mentioned in the book are familiar, and many of the persons spoken of were my schoolmates and acquaintances."

From my cousins, H. C. and A. Waid, of Millerton, Penn.: "We received the Second Souvenir; are more than pleased with it, and have learned many things from it which have been very interesting to us. Many thanks to you."

My much-esteemed uncle, Horace F. Waid, of Blooming Valley, Penn., says: "I have received your Second Souvenir, for which I render many thanks."

From Dr. J. T. Waid, of Ridgway, Penn.: "It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge receipt of your Second Souvenir. I have read it with satisfaction, as many of the places and persons mentioned are familiar to me from boyhood."

Frank L. Wallace, of Meadville, Penn., writes: "Your Souvenir has just been handed to me. Although as yet I have but hurriedly glanced through it, I feel that its perusal will be of much interest to me. I am much interested in people who believe in agriculture and can make agriculture a success. Your topics are good, and useful for consideration. It would be a good thing if more American families had their memoirs published in book form. Too few Americans, in the rush and bustle of active business life, take time to do this work. A book like yours becomes more valuable as the years pass by. Accept my thanks for your kind remembrance."

Willard Weeks, of St. Charles, Minn., writes as follows: "Accept my thanks for the book received some time ago. I left it with my children to write and thank you, but they neglected it until this late day. Permit me to return my sincere thanks with the hope that I may always have the honor to remain your sincere friend."

From S. Louise West, Sycamore: "I hereby acknowledge receipt of copy of your Second Souvenir for which accept my hearty thanks. I assure you that I am glad of the remembrance, and have been deeply interested in looking over the work, although I am unable to read much on account of my health. We enjoyed the brief visit of yourself and party (last October), and hope you will again come to see us. While you were at our place I could not help thinking that the Christain life of your wife and yourself was having a beneficial effect on those about you. We none of us live to ourselves, and none dieth to himself."

From E. C. West, Sycamore, Ill.: "More time has elapsed than I intended before acknowledging receipt of your book. While we find some things interesting for want of knowledge, yet there is very much not only interesting but also highly instructive. It carries an elevated tone, and your advice, etc., to young men is excellent. It is an everyday book, Sunday not excepted. Please accept thanks for your Second Souvenir."

Lysander Wheeler, of Sycamore, Ill, says: "It is with great pleasure I write you to express thanks for myself and entire family, for your Second Souvenir. It is not a usual thing for the author of a book to present his friends with free copies of his work as you have done. I am highly pleased, for it is a book by which all who read it will be profited, as its moral and religious teachings are of the very best; historically, it is interesting and, I think, correct. Its treatment of financial matters is of the best, and if followed will bring comfort and success. All in all, it is well written. I heartily thank you, friend Waid, for this marked compliment in remembrance of me."

From A. Y. Wikoff, of Oelwein, Iowa:--"I have received a very agreeable surprise in the form of a book from you--your Second Souvenir which I have examined to some extent, and pronounce very good, and bound to do more good wherever it goes than many mere pretentious publications. It does me good to look at the pictures, in the book, of familiar faces and scenes I have not set my eyes on for thirty-four long years; they all seem so natural that I feel as if I would like to visit Crawford County again, to see how many more persons and scenes would be as familiar as those ones in the book. I shall treasure the Souvenir as a token of unselfish friendship, and as a valuable memento of the past."

Ursula Wikoff writes from Caliope, Iowa: "I received your Souvenir ten days ago. It is always pleasant to be remembered by our friends, especially so when we are far from the old home and its surroundings. The plates in your book recall familiar scenes and faces, and reading the reminiscences is almost as good as a visit with some Blooming Valley friend. Allow me to thank you for the pleasure your keepsake has given me."

The following comes from H. G. Williams, Meadville: "Please accept my thanks for the interesting volume containing the biographical sketches of yourself, family and friends, which you so kindly gave me. It contains much that I appreciate, and I fail to find words to express the deep gratitude that I feel toward you. Nothing you could give would please as well."

A. Wolcott, of Savanna, Ill., kindly writes insubstance as follows: "You do not know what a happy surprise it was to me on receiving your fine book, Second Souvenir, coming as it did from one of my many acquaintances. I recall your face as I look at your picture, and it carries me back with pleasure to the many chats we have had. It gives me more happiness to know that those who have been under my care should think of me, or have a kind word and a good thought for me. I try to treat all who come under my care with kindness and respect. I may fail many times, but such remembrances as you have presented to me will help me to be more watchful and care more for these that come under my charge. Love and kindness to our neighbors cause the clouds to disappear, and the sun to shine in their hearts. Your book carries me back to boyhood days when I worked on a farm and in the sugar bush. Please accept many thanks for your kind remembrance of me."

W. C. Wygant, superintendent of Sabbath-school at Guy's Mills, Penn., writes: "I presented your Second Souvenir to our Sabbath-school, and it was voted unanimously to accept your kind gift; also that a vote of thanks be tendered you, which was accordingly done. Please accept my thanks."

From an old pupil of mine, W. C. Wygant, of Guy's Mills, Penn., I received the following: "Allow me to thank you for your kindness in presenting me with your First and Second Souvenir. I read the First through, and feel that I was benefited by your counsel. I shall read the Second carefully. I find that my name has been left out of the list of your scholars, but I am sure it was by mistake."

M. S. McMullen, general secretary of the Y. M. C. A., at Ottawa, Kas., writes: "I hope you will excuse me for not sooner acknowledging your gift to our Association Library. Though thus tardy I beg to assure you that my thanks are no less hearty. I have enjoyed reading sketches in it very much, and am glad to place it among our books here. The Souvenir has an especial value to me because of the familiarity and dearness of the places and people both there [Crawford County, Penn.] and here, and also because of my acquaintance, and, I trust, friendship with yourself."

From B. F. Culp, general secretary of the Y. M. C. A. at Oil City, Penn.: "Please accept thanks for the copy of your Souvenir you left for the library of the Y. M. C. A. in this city. Your kindness is greatly appreciated, and we pray the blessing upon your future."

From the Y. M. C. A. at Galesburg, Ill., by H. S. Stratton, secretary: "It is with a great deal of pleasure that we acknowledge reciept of your work. Please accept our sincere thanks. It is a valuable addition to our library."

The following letter I received from little Harry Cutshall, of Guy's Mills, Pa.: "Dear Uncle. I was over to Aunt Minnie's yesterday, and she gave me that nice present you left there for me, A BIBLE. Please accept my thanks."

In addition to the above, very many of my relatives and friends have thanked me in person for the SOUVENIRS. My aunt, Phebe Goodwill, who lives with her youngest son at Garland, Warren County, Penn., thanked me heartily in person for the SOUVENIR, when I visited her in May, 1891; and her words to me were these: "Francis, I don't see how you ever found time enough to write two books for nothing, and give them away. They cost money." I replied that I used the fragments of time, and the money I had earned before I began writing the books, and that I wished a keepsake for my friends and kindred that would do good. "Well," said my aunt, "you have got it! and I can never be thankful enough for mine."

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